Deadline : 19/04/2022
Credit : ISC3
The ISC3 Innovation Challenge is organized annually and focuses on a specific topic that follows the respective focus topic of the ISC3. The current third Innovation Challenge addresses innovators developing solutions in the following thematic areas:
Waste Prevention
Avoiding and reducing environmental impact
Durability and resilience
Closing material, molecule, and energy cycles
Waste reduction/avoidance by resource-efficient chemical and biotechnological production
Substitution of critical product ingredients preventing recycling
Product design for longevity and better recyclability
Waste Valorisation
Recovery and reuse of waste streams:
Plastic and other materials waste
Electronic waste
Agricultural and food waste
Construction waste
Production waste
Waste-water
Other waste streams
Recycling, beneficial reuse, value recovery
Waste reclamation
Energy and scarce element recovery
Business models facilitating waste collection and valorisation
Waste Management
Safe and sound management of waste
Waste and waste-water treatment
Harmful substances in materials and products
Collection, transport, treatment, disposal, monitoring and regulation
ISC3 2022 special focus topic:
Waste management related to renewable energy supply (e.g. recycling/recyclability of batteries, wind power plant blades, PV materials)
Submission of proposals :
The submission of proposals will follow a 2-stage procedure. First stage submissions include an online template that asks for a brief description of the innovation, the business perspectives, and the innovators' team. Eligible submissions will be invited to the second stage, in which more detailed information has to be provided.
Eligible participants :
Eligible are all innovators and entrepreneurs, i.e. persons owning or representing the proposed innovation, employed by organizations including research institutes, start-ups, small-medium sized enterprises or comparable institutions active in the development and realization of sustainable chemistry solutions.
Enterprises participating in the challenge shall have a staff headcount not exceeding 50 (full-time equivalent) and an annual turnover of max. 10 Mill. Euro.
Enterprises majority-owned by large enterprises are not eligible for the award, with the exception of innovations leading to the creation of independent spin-offs.
Proposals submitted by innovators and entrepreneurs from developing countries and tackling challenges in developing countries are considered as particularly important. Female entrepreneurs are specifically encouraged to submit a proposal.
Criteria :
The proposals will be assessed against the three main criteria:
Innovation level. Is the innovation unique, distinct, and truly original?
Business viability. What is the market potential of the innovation? Is the idea commercially feasible?
Sustainability. What is the sustainability impact of the innovation?
Benefits:
Five finalists will receive:
Tailored support: access to Global Start-up Service Customise Support
Visibility: promotion of your innovation via ISC3 communication channels
Networking: participation in the Investor Forum 2022
Training: pitch training for preparation of your Investor Forum 2022 pitch
Cash prizes: the overall Innovation Challenge Winner will receive a cash prize of 15,000EUR.
The two separate categories “Best Social Impact” and “Best Regional Impact" are endowed with cash prizes amounting to 5.000 EUR each.
Useful links :
For questions about the innovation challenge, please email astrid.ewaz©isc3.org